Valcivir 1000 Mg
- Manufacturer : Cipla Ltd
- Equivalent Brands : Valtrex
- Generic Brands : Valacyclovir
Valcivir 1000Mg Tablet falls under a category of drugs known as antiviral. This medication is used to treat infections such as genital herpes, cold sores in children at least 12 years of age and shingles in adults. It also treats chickenpox in children who are 2 years of age.
On using this medication you may experience side effects such as headache, stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness, hallucinations, mental and mood disorders such as agitation, seizures, skin rash, difficulty with speech, kidney disorders and nausea. Seek medical help on experiencing any reaction. Discontinue usage if you have fever, weakness, skin paleness, bloody diarrhoea, swelling of body parts and abnormal bleeding.
Before using this medication tell your doctor if; you are allergic to any ingredient contained within Valcivir 1000Mg Tablet, you are allergic to any food or medicine or substance, you are taking any medications, you have kidney disorders, you have HIV or weak immune system, you are pregnant or are nursing a baby.
The dosage is fixed by the doctor taking into consideration your previous medical records and the current condition. The usual dose in adults for treating herpes simplex labialis is 2 g orally every 12 hours in doses of 2.
Valcivir tablets 1000mg contain valacyclovir, a prodrug of acyclovir that is more readily absorbed and is converted to acyclovir by the liver.
Valacyclovir in Valcivir tablets 1000mg then works in the same way as acyclovir, as an antiviral agent that is highly active against both types of herpes simplex virus, HSV-I, that causes cold sores and HSV-II that causes genital herpes; and also against the closely related varicella zoster herpes virus that causes chicken pox and shingles.
Acyclovir inhibits the action of a viral enzyme (DNA polymerase), blocking viral DNA synthesis without affecting normal cellular processes.
This prevents the virus replicating and therefore stops the growth and spread of the virus, relieving symptoms of the infection and helping the body to fight off the infection.
Valcivir tablets 1000mg will not cure a herpes infection, as the virus can lie dormant in infected cells until reactivated when immunity is low by stress, other illness or even exposure to sunlight, causing new infections like cold sores and shingles; but it does reduce pain and help the sores caused by the infection to heal faster.
You should take your Valcivir tablets 1000mg with a glass of water with or without food, usually twice daily depending on what you are being treated for and your doctors recommendations. You should start taking your Valcivir tablets 1000mg as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms, such as tingling, burning, blisters. The dose you take and for how long depends on what you are being treated for and your doctors recommendations and your course of treatment may last for 3 10 days for an initial infection or several months depending on your condition and whether you are taking Valcivir tablets 1000mg for initial or recurrent infection or for prevention.
For the treatment of Herpes zoster in adults- The recommended dose is 1 g thrice daily for seven days.
For genital herpes in adults-
Initial treatment: 1 g two times a day for ten days
Recurrence: 500 mg two times a day for three days
Suppression of recurrence in patients with HIV infection: 1 g a day or 500 mg once a day in patients experiencing less than 10 years of recurrences per year
Reduction of transmission: 500 mg once a day for source partner
For Herpes labilais: The recommended dose for adults and children are 2 g then 2 g 12 hours later.
For Chicken pox: For children older than 2 years of age, the suggested dose is 20 mg per kg thrice a day for five days. The maximum dose should not exceed 1 g three times daily.
You are instructed to take the medicine exactly as directed for the full course of their therapy.
You are advised to main adequate hydration therapy during the treatment.
Notify your physician promptly if nervous system symptoms occur.
You should not use Valcivir if you:
Valcivir tablets 1000mg are used to treat infection infections of the skin and mucous membranes caused by herpes simplex virus, including cold sores (herpes labialis), initial and recurrent episodes of genital herpes in people with a healthy immune system, and shingles (herpes zoster).
Valcivir tablets 1000mg are also used for suppression of recurrent genital herpes infections in people with an active immune system (immunocompetent) and to reduce the transmission of genital herpes to others. In HIV-infected patients who are immunocompromised, Valcivir tablets 1000mg are used for prevention (prophylaxis) of herpes infections.
Valcivir tablets 1000mg are also used to treat cold sores in children who are at least 12 years old, and to treat chickenpox, caused by the closely related varicella zoster herpes in children who are at least 2 years old.
Keep your Valcivir tablets 1000mg in their pack until use. Store in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°.